FTL Chapter 16

Blu steps out of her shower. She still hasn’t gotten used to how much has changed. She expected to walk out into her comfortable, if admitted gross, little bedchamber aboard the Seiki Ondori as it was before all the upgrades that her employment with Laki paid for.

But now her quarters are clean, tasteful, and uncluttered.

And lonely. Setna is back with her clan, and Blu doesn’t expect Silvi or Laki to be there when she returns to the main ship. There’s nothing stopping her from doing what she used to, and stopping to find some company at her first opportunity. But her desire to do that isn’t as strong as it used to be. And her desire to see Setna’s face under that helmet is stronger than she would expect it to be. It’s funny.

She sighs and seats herself on her bed, toweling her hair as she activates the communicator.

A blue projection of Laki appears, about half a meter tall on her bedside table.

“Are you trying to get my attention?” Laki asks, looking her up and down.

“Complaining?”

“Hardly. How did it go?”

“I got the codes. I also got her client list and some money.”

“How did that come about?”

“She faked her **** after our deal. You can’t rob a dead woman,” Blu says.

“Mysterious. I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“This stuff has value. More importantly, she has value.” Blu puts her towel aside and pushes her hair out of her face. “She’s got enemies. It’s why she did what she did. Now she’s broke and alone. If someone like Silvi were to pop up and offer her a lifeline, we’d gain a useful skill set. Her client list only has half its value without Nar Uned herself. These contacts won’t deal with people they don’t know. They know her. We can use her. An army needs arms.”

“What makes you think I’m building an army?” Laki asks.

“Why else do you have all those droids? Why do we live on a warship?” Blu shrugs. “It’s obvious.”

Laki sighs. “It’s true. When the time comes, the Jedi will come for us. A fight seems inevitable.”

“You’ll need muscle. More than me, Silvi, and some droids.”

“You have someone in mind?”

Blu takes a deep breath. “How do you feel about Mandalorians?”

“I’m neutral on the subject. A better question would be how do Mandalorians feel about the Jedi?”

“I think you know the answer to that one. But we aren’t Jedi.”

“When it comes to dealing with them, we may as well be.”

Blu hesitates. “They’re used to mercenary work. Everyone needs credits.”

“It’s an intriguing notion. Attractive, even. Although, not as attractive as a slightly more obedient apprentice.”

“I obeyed. I got the codes you wanted. Now, do I go to use these codes and muddy the waters and set up Crimson Dawn or to draw attention away from the Separatists?”

“I never said that was what we were doing,” Laki notes.

“Right,” Blu says. She smiles at the blue projection. “Is that what we’re doing?”

“Well, yes. But maybe I’ll handle that. Maybe I should send you to speak with these Mandalorians.”

Blu sighs. She was afraid of that. “And when you send Silvi to pick up Nar Uned? Tell her to leave some for me.”

[ End of Episode ]